OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Puyallup City Council Regular Meeting - September 9, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, September 9, 2025
BodyPuyallup, Washington
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, September 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:28:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:31

Good evening, everyone.

0:32

This is the PewP City Council meeting for September 9th, and it's now called to order.

0:38

Will everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America and City Republicans?

1:00

Thank you for all being here this evening.

1:03

It's a wonderful, beautiful evening.

1:06

With that, I'm going to have the clerk please call the role.

1:11

Deputy Mayor King.

1:13

Present.

1:14

Councilmember Gillam.

1:15

Present.

1:16

Councilmember Whitting.

1:17

Present.

1:18

Councilmember Dore.

1:19

Present.

1:20

Councilmember Adler.

1:21

Present.

1:22

Councilmember Johnson.

1:24

Excused.

1:24

Mayor Caskman.

1:26

Present.

1:27

Thank you.

1:28

At this time, we uh we usually scan the audience for youth to uh so they can acknowledge themselves, so we can acknowledge them.

1:36

And I just had the opportunity to go to the back of the room because I think we have one eligible individual here this evening.

1:43

Uh so young man, if you don't mind just standing up and introduce yourself and tell us why you're here.

1:50

Hi, good evening.

1:51

My name is Michael Stella, and although I'm wearing the wrong color tonight, I'm a student of the University of Washington.

2:01

I didn't direct the program.

2:03

So nice to be here.

2:05

Thank you.

2:06

Thank you.

2:07

You you did not get the memo.

2:10

Um thank you.

2:12

Pardon me?

2:14

Oh, oh, we have someone else over here.

2:18

Young lady, would you like to stand up, please?

2:23

I'm committee and I'm probably proud of the second.

2:26

Is that your father?

2:28

It is.

2:31

Well, thank you for being here.

2:33

It's wonderful that your father brought you to work and you can see what he does here.

2:37

It's a very important job.

2:39

So thank you for being here.

2:42

Okay, with that, we are now going to move on to uh are there any is there anyone else?

2:47

Just so I am not surprised here.

2:50

Okay, let's go ahead and let's move on to the um, and by the way, the reason we do that, and we acknowledge that every time is that uh the youth are the future of the city.

3:00

And we like them to be here.

3:02

We want you to know that you're very welcome to be here to sit and engage in uh the various debate, but also tell us you know why you're here.

3:10

It's just very important uh that we acknowledge that.

3:14

So with that, let's move to item one on the agenda, and that's the approval of the agenda.

3:19

Is there a motion to approve the agenda as presented?

3:22

Move approval.

3:23

Second.

3:23

Moved and seconded.

3:24

All those in favor, indicate by saying aye.

3:26

Aye.

3:27

Excellent.

3:28

Let's move to number two, presentations and proclamations.

3:32

23A, uh, this is one of my favorite proclamations of the year.

3:37

Uh it acknowledges the Washington State Research and Extension Center, which is at the far end of the town.

3:44

If you just take pioneer to the east, you will eventually run into the research extension center.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety███████████████████19%
Community Engagement█████████████████17%
Procedural██████████████14%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Public Safety████████8%
Public Engagement████████8%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Agricultural Land Use███3%
Racial Equity███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Puyallup City Council Regular Meeting

This regular meeting of the Puyallup City Council was held on September 9, 2025, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting included a proclamation, public comments, consent agenda, two ordinances, and two major discussion items: a railroad quiet zone study and selection of operators for city-sponsored events. All votes passed unanimously with one abstention. Councilmember Johnson was excused.

Consent Calendar

  • Accepted a grant from Washington State for the Meeker Street Improvement Project.
  • Accepted a grant from Washington State for the 4th Street NW Stormwater Improvement Project.
  • Accepted the Metro Animal Shelter Flooring project as complete.
  • Accepted the Puyallup Activity Center Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning project with West Coast Mechanical as complete.
  • Approved a Memorandum of Understanding related to opioid litigation.
  • Authorized the purchase of a replacement Sanitary Sewer Vactor Truck.
  • Accepted the 2025 Clark's Creek Elodea Management project with Stumpy Tree Service as complete.

The consent agenda was approved 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Don Cottam presented a 1935 Apple Cup advertisement found in the Pioneer Bakery building, noting historical inconsistencies.
  • Kathleen Macleod urged the Council to restore the phrase "time immemorial" in the Comprehensive Plan to honor the Puyallup Tribe's 5,000-year presence. She expressed disappointment over its removal.
  • John Palmer (representing Forever Green Trails) reported fundraising efforts for Riverwalk Segment 5 to connect Tacoma to Mount Rainier and praised the Nashville Nights event for boosting downtown community spirit.
  • Chris Chisholm criticized the Council for not publicly condemning violent threats against the Planning Commission Chair, claiming the mayor's internal memo was insufficient. He asked for a direct public statement from all council members.
  • Matthew Caras expressed frustration with the Council's lack of engagement on public safety and homelessness, suggesting council members volunteer with organizations like New Hope. He felt the Council did not listen to citizens.

Discussion Items

  • Railroad Quiet Zone Study: City Engineer Hans Hunger and PH Consulting’s Pablo Parra presented the feasibility study. The city qualifies for a quiet zone along BNSF Railway (Stewart Avenue and Pioneer Way) due to existing one-way street conversions that lowered the corridor's risk score below federal thresholds. Three options were outlined; Option 2 is the recommended path. Estimated costs are about $20,000 per crossing for signage and pavement markings. The implementation timeline is 9 to 12 months, assuming no delays from BNSF. Council members raised questions about public safety at a private crossing on Stewart and potential BNSF requests for facility upgrades. The process does not require FRA approval. Council expressed optimism about quality-of-life improvements for residents.
  • Selection of Operators for City-Sponsored Events: Parks and Recreation Director Coddy Geddes presented the RFP results. Puyallup Main Street Association (PMSA) was the sole applicant to operate the Saturday Farmers Market, Santa Parade, and Meeker Days. Generous Influencers was the sole applicant for the Thursday Night Market.
    • Councilmember Door excused herself and abstained from the first vote.
    • A motion to authorize an agreement with PMSA passed 5-0 (Door abstained).
    • A motion to authorize an agreement with Generous Influencers for the Thursday Night Market passed 6-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the consent agenda (7 items) – 6-0.
  • Approved second reading of ordinance to vacate 2nd Street SE (for Meeker Festival Street Project) – 6-0 on roll call.
  • Approved second reading of ordinance for 2025 routine budget adjustments – 6-0 on roll call.
  • Authorized agreement with PMSA for Saturday Farmers Market, Santa Parade, and Meeker Days – 5-0 (Door abstained).
  • Authorized agreement with Generous Influencers for Thursday Night Market – 6-0.
  • Received the railroad quiet zone study; next steps include diagnostic meeting with BNSF and reporting back to Council.
  • City Manager announced the September 23rd meeting will include a potential interlocal agreement on sewer service area and a presentation on land use code process improvements.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. This is the PewP City Council meeting for September 9th, and it's now called to order. Will everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America and City Republicans? Thank you for all being here this evening. It's a wonderful, beautiful evening. With that, I'm going to have the clerk please call the role. Deputy Mayor King. Present. Councilmember Gillam. Present. Councilmember Whitting. Present. Councilmember Dore. Present. Councilmember Adler. Present. Councilmember Johnson. Excused. Mayor Caskman. Present. Thank you. At this time, we uh we usually scan the audience for youth to uh so they can acknowledge themselves, so we can acknowledge them. And I just had the opportunity to go to the back of the room because I think we have one eligible individual here this evening. Uh so young man, if you don't mind just standing up and introduce yourself and tell us why you're here. Hi, good evening. My name is Michael Stella, and although I'm wearing the wrong color tonight, I'm a student of the University of Washington. I didn't direct the program. So nice to be here. Thank you. Thank you. You you did not get the memo. Um thank you. Pardon me? Oh, oh, we have someone else over here. Young lady, would you like to stand up, please? I'm committee and I'm probably proud of the second. Is that your father? It is. Well, thank you for being here. It's wonderful that your father brought you to work and you can see what he does here. It's a very important job. So thank you for being here. Okay, with that, we are now going to move on to uh are there any is there anyone else? Just so I am not surprised here. Okay, let's go ahead and let's move on to the um, and by the way, the reason we do that, and we acknowledge that every time is that uh the youth are the future of the city. And we like them to be here. We want you to know that you're very welcome to be here to sit and engage in uh the various debate, but also tell us you know why you're here. It's just very important uh that we acknowledge that. So with that, let's move to item one on the agenda, and that's the approval of the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda as presented?

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